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Southeast North Dakota man charged in federal court in South Dakota with illegal gun possession

GWINNER, N.D. -- A 61-year-old southeast North Dakota man who authorities said is an unlawful user of and addicted to a controlled substance has been indicted by a federal jury in South Dakota for possession of a firearm by a prohibited person.

U.S. Attorney for South Dakota Ron Parsons said Tuesday, Aug. 7, that Bruce G. Maxwell of Gwinner, N.D., entered a not guilty plea to the charge last week.

He faces up to 10 years in prison.

The Indictment alleges that on or about May 23, Maxwell knowingly received and possessed several firearms.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, a program directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally-based strategies to reduce violent crime.

This investigation is being conducted by the Mobridge Police Department, the Campbell County Sheriff’s Office, the Walworth County Sheriff’s Office, the Northern Plains Safe Trails Drug Enforcement Task Force, and the Bureau of Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.

Maxwell was released on bond pending trial. A trial date has not been set.